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An ultimate indivisible particle of matter.

Poison; venom; corrupt matter from a sore. [Obs.] Holland.

Matter pulverized by attrition.

A writ which lies for a party against whom judgment is recovered, but to whom good matter of discharge has subsequently accrued which could not have been availed of to prevent such judgment. Wharton.

of the 18th century characterized by a lively questioning of authority, keen interest in matters of politics and general culture, and an emphasis on empirical method in science. It received its impetus from the unsystematic but vigorous skepticism of Pierre Bayle, the physical doctrines of Newton, and the epistemologi…

A red coloring matter derived from phenol; -- called also, in commerce, yellow coralin.

g; automatic, mechanical, or involuntary action. (Metaph.) A theory as to the activity of matter.

, the plaintiff may deny the defendant's plea, or confess it, and avoid it by stating new matter. Blackstone.

To declare or assert positively and as matter of fact; to affirm openly. If this which he avouches does appear. Shak. Such antiquities could have been avouched for the Irish. Spenser.

ing to sleep. Specifically: A revival of religion, or more general attention to religious matters than usual.

To swell or hang down like a full bag; as, the skin bags from containing morbid matter.

Purulent matter. [Obs.] Barrough.

ubstitute for yeast, usually consisting of an acid, a carbonate, and a little farinaceous matter.

Any heavy matter put into the car of a balloon to give it steadiness.

of reducing corpulence by avoiding food containing much farinaceous, saccharine, or oily matter; -- so called from William Banting of London.

A bank of sand, gravel, or other matter, esp. at the mouth of a river or harbor, obstructing navigation.

g tropical plants, having a bed of tanner's bark (called a bark bed) or other fermentable matter which produces a moist heat.

ty. Brilliant but barren reveries. Prescott. Some schemes will appear barren of hints and matter. Swift.

A fagot of brushwood, or other light combustible matter, for kindling fires; refuse of brushwood. [Obs. or Dial. Eng.]

To gather matter; to swell and come to a head, as a pimple. [Prov. Eng.]